The 2023-2024 NBA season has completed its first week. The stakes could not be higher, and the excitement level is now through the roof as a result. Following up with our projection series, it is now time for the Most Valuable Player award, the highest individual accolade in basketball. The last few years have been clear evidence of the international player’s dominion in the league, and it is, without a doubt, going to continue in the years to come. Who is the MVP favorite this year?

5. Jayson Tatum

Even though he needs to find consistency on both ends of the court, Tatum can easily have the best season of his career this time around. As the leader of the Boston Celtics, no less than a great performance is expected from him every night. Usually, he delivers extraordinary value for the team, especially on the offensive side. If he continues with his average of 29.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG, he deserves a spot in the MVP conversation.

4. Stephen Curry

Despite entering his 15th season, Stephen Curry is still at the highest level of his career as the undisputable leader of the Golden State Warriors. The best point guard in the NBA shines in every performance, remaining among the top 5 players in the entire league and providing tremendous value to the organization. So far, he is averaging 33.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG. Even if they decrease a little throughout the season, they would still be unreal statistics.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis and the Bucks are going all in this season. Roster-wise, this could be one of the best teams Antetokounmpo has ever been in so far in his career. While that may be a disadvantage in the MVP voting, it could also be a huge propel for his individual performance throughout the season. Thus far this year, his stats are nothing short of an MVP-worthy year, with 27.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.7 APG.

2. Luka Dončić

With an insane season start, Luka Dončić does not seem to stop improving as his career progresses. An otherworldly average of 39 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 9.7 APG so far this year is definitely indicative of his dominance on the court. If the Dallas Mavericks manage to clinch a respectable seed at the end of the regular season, it would mainly be thanks to Luka’s all-around improvement, thus allowing him to be among the top candidates for the Most Valuable Player award.

1. Nikola Jokić

The reigning NBA champion and Finals MVP still takes the world by surprise with every game he plays. As the Denver Nuggets franchise player, he has nothing to prove, yet he delivers excellent, effortless performances across the board, especially on the offensive side of the court. While the Western Conference is more competed than ever, the Nuggets still have every chance of striving for a back-to-back championship. In this first week, Jokić averaged 26.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, and 8.5 APG.

Many other players can be the surprise of the season and put themselves ahead of this award race. Nevertheless, these five extraordinary players deserve to be part of this exclusive MVP projection list.

While these five deserve their spots on the exclusive MVP projection list, others who may not be as well-known or widely discussed also have the potential to make surprising contributions throughout the season.

However, for those who just aren’t making the cut might find themselves making a bigger impact elsewhere in the industry. For example, they may decide to become top-class referees, joining the ranks of respected officials such as Doug Shows.

Those who make this switch contribute to the sport in a new, vital capacity, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the game are upheld. Ultimately, their impact may extend far beyond their playing days, influencing the game from a different angle and continuing to shape its future.

Text sources: nba.com